AFP Africa

Rwanda last month severed relations with Belgium following criticism of its actions in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) — a move that is already having unexpected consequences. Rwanda’s support for the M23 armed group, which has seized large areas of the mineral-rich eastern DRC, has attracted international condemnation and sanctions.In March, Kigali cut diplomatic ties …

Rwanda feels the impact of cutting ties with BelgiumMon, 28 Apr 2025 05:58:38 GMT Read More »

A man suspected of stabbing a young Malian to death in a mosque in southern France and filming his victim writhing in agony has surrendered to police in Italy, a prosecutor told AFP on Monday.The suspect, “Olivier A.”, a French national born in Lyon in 2004, “surrendered himself to a police station in Pistoia” near …

Mosque murder suspect arrested in Italy: French prosecutorMon, 28 Apr 2025 05:45:02 GMT Read More »

France’s President Emmanuel Macron lashed out Sunday against “racism and hatred” after the brutal stabbing to death of a Muslim in a mosque in the south of the country.Officials said the attacker, who is on the run, stabbed Aboubakar Cisse, a young Malian in his early 20s, dozens of times and then filmed him with …

Macron warns against religious hate after Muslim killed in mosqueSun, 27 Apr 2025 19:12:47 GMT Read More »

Mauritian rider Kim Le Court sprung a surprise on Sunday by becoming the first African cyclist to win the women’s Liege-Bastogne-Liege. The 29-year-old AG Insurance-Soudal rider scored the biggest win of her career by beating Dutch pair Puck Pieterse and Demi Vollering in a four-way sprint, with French rider Cedrine Kerbaol just missing out on the podium. “I …

Le Court becomes first African winner of women’s Liege classicSun, 27 Apr 2025 17:37:50 GMT Read More »

For years, traditionalists raged at Pope Francis’s liberal approach. The question now is whether his successor will walk the same path, or take the Catholic Church in a new direction.Cardinals will meet within days for a conclave to elect a new pontiff, sparking fevered speculation about how the next pope will guide the world’s 1.4 …

Continuity or rupture: what direction for the next pope?Sun, 27 Apr 2025 03:13:19 GMT Read More »

Pope Francis smashed the stereotypical profile for a pontiff, becoming the Catholic Church’s first leader from the Americas and the first non-European since the eighth century.Some hope his successor, to be chosen in a conclave of cardinals in the coming days or weeks, could come from Africa or Asia.The late Argentine pontiff championed far-flung regions …

Diplomacy likely to trump geography in choice of new popeSun, 27 Apr 2025 02:37:26 GMT Read More »

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou on Saturday denounced the fatal stabbing of a Muslim worshipper inside a mosque as police hunted the killer, who filmed his victim as he lay dying.The attacker stabbed the worshipper dozens of times then filmed him with a mobile phone while shouting insults at Islam in Friday’s attack in the …

French police hunt suspected killer of Muslim worshipper inside mosqueSat, 26 Apr 2025 20:14:12 GMT Read More »

Belgium’s foreign minister told AFP that Rwanda’s “legitimate” security concerns in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo could not justify its former colony’s backing for the M23 armed group.In an interview with AFP, Maxime Prevot urged both sides to negotiate an end to the conflict in the DRC’s troubled east, where the M23 has seized …

Rwanda’s actions in DR Congo unjustified: Belgian top diplomatSat, 26 Apr 2025 15:00:05 GMT Read More »

Some 250,000 people paid respects to Pope Francis during the three days his coffin led in St Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican said Friday, as public viewing ended and world leaders began gathering for his funeral.French President Emmanuel Macron was among the last to bow before the coffin, with the overall crowds exceeding the estimated 195,000 …

Huge crowds pack Vatican for last day of Pope’s lying in stateFri, 25 Apr 2025 21:06:15 GMT Read More »

The funeral of Pope Francis, who died on Monday aged 88, will take place Saturday. After a multi-lingual mass in St Peter’s Square, his coffin will be taken to the Santa Maria Maggiore basilica, in central Rome, for burial. Here is the official programme of the ceremonies:05:30 (0330 GMT) St Peter’s Square opens.09:30 (0730 GMT) US President Donald Trump …

Pope Francis’s funeral programmeFri, 25 Apr 2025 14:42:31 GMT Read More »